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The Library.

Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Hebrew Character collected and bequeathed to Trinity College Library by the late William Aldis Wright. By Herbert Loewe. (Cambridge University Press, 1 net.).

THE

HE late Dr. Aldis Wright was one of the Revisers of the Authorized Version of the Bible, and, in collaboration with the late Dr. S. A. Hirsch, published an unknown Hebrew commentary on Job. The collection he brought together in the course of this work- its vol

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umes and rolls numbering 159-corresponds in range and interest with the importance of these tasks, and with the erudition and discrimination of the scholar upon whom they were laid. The biblical MSS. are particularly interesting: they include three Qaraite scrolls of which one dates from circa 1320; a fourteenth century Pentateuch; a thirteenth century Bible (in a beautiful Sephardic hand, on very fine vellum of 578 leaves, small quarto, with ornamentation on the first five folios) and a rare Italian lectionary. Among the most notable of the twenty-five Bible Commentaries are the Commentary on Genesis attributed to a fourteenth century author, Samuel ha-Rofe al-Maghribi, on the ground of its resemblance to his commentaries on Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers which are in the British Museum (not mentioned either in Benjacob or in Neubauer); a rare Commentary on the Pentateuch by R. Isaak Dondon; and the original autograph MS. of R. Saul Serero's commentary on Proverbs, composed at the age of fourteen. The MS. from which S. Buber edited his text of Midrash Tehillim' is another precious item, and in the twenty-four MSS., under Talmud and Halakha' there are the commentary on the Yad of Maimonides, by R. Judah Albutini, which bears the note Unique," and a fifteenth century copy of the Minhagim ' of R. Abraham Klausner, a Rabbi of Vienna in the fourteenth century. There are fourteen liturgical MSS., among them a beautiful fourteenth century example in a Franco-German hand, and a somewhat later one in an Italian hand. Under 'Grammar (thirteen MSS.) is to be noticed Qimhi's Mikhlol,' and a small MS., perhaps of the thirteenth century, giving lists of words in Rashi's biblical commentaries translated into German. The Kabbalistic MSS. number nineteen and include some otherwise unknown; those under Philosophy and Ethics number nine, of which one is the unique Four Possessions of R. Judah Qanpanton, dated 1504. There are a few MSS. of poetry, and a fragment in Judaeo-German rhyme of the epic of King Arthur; some sermons; a biography (Hayyim Vital) and, with other miscellaneous items, several beautiful specimens of marriage contracts.

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Mr. Loewe gives a brief account of the generosity of Dr. Aldis Wright in allowing

scholars to make use of his MSS., and or the manner in which this Catalogue was worked out under his eye, with infinite care to have every possible point fully explained, that the expert. It was completed nearly eighteen years work might be useful to neophyte as well as ago, but publication was not found possible until now. It is to the Council of Trinity College that scholars-especially foreign

scholars-are indebted for the satisfaction of a much felt want.

The Outlook for American Prose. By Joseph Warren Beach. (The University of Chicago Press. Cambridge University Press, 12s. 6d. net.).

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MR. Beach is eager, he says, to find some development in American prose-writing comparable to what has taken place in AmeriAmerican prose-writer the prick of sharp but can poetry; and in this book he applies to the enthusiastic criticism. Whether the criticism criticism at all in the present stage of Ameriis well-directed, and further, whether any can literary creativeness can be expected to prove useful are questions that call for reflection. There runs through these essays-what cannot but be grateful to an English readercontinuous reference to English work as the standard. We believe this sort of reference to be wholesome while it remains tacit, for the writer who works without knowledge, and some frequent consciousness, of the stock to which he belongs is likely to prove too puny for his generation; but we also believe it tends to enervate and distort if it is used to more than the slightest degree in published criticism. Mr. Beach's general line of admonition is, however, one which many modern writers would do well to ponder. He has a lively sense of the merits of futurist art; the passages he quotes for approval reveal much delicacy of appreciation, and intimacy of intellectual sympathy; his outlook is unflinching, and any capable writer who remains inclined to be too timid may well be heartened up by it; but the principal service this book should render is that of forcing attention away from the sensuous and towards the intellectual element in style and diction; away from immediate external effect and towards internal construction. He is perhaps, even over severe in small matters-such as the vogue of this or that word-though by no means so in his strictures upon scientific jargon. On the whole, however, his perception of weaknesses and his counsels upon them are true; if they are not, the great literatures of our heritage are shown to count for nothing. He has a clear insight into the importance of coherence, the viciousness of incoherence; and this alone, at the present moment, would give value to what he has to say. English readers will gain from this book a good deal of fresh insight into American criticism and American fiction, and yet more into the tangle of psychological fact-if we may so express it-which impedes the development in America of a great prose litera

ture. Perhaps it is only candid to remark that we think Mr. Beach's estimate of American poetry-good as much of it is a little higher than the future will subscribe to. A Bibliography of the Parish of Annan. By Frank Miller (Dumfries: from Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society.). THE Parish of Annan can boast no inconsiderable array of authors as its denizens -about ninety, in fact, they number. It is true that none has arrived at fame (Edward Irving excepted), but more than one has come somewhere near it. Thomas Blacklock, for instance, author of the letter to the Rev. George Lawrie (1786) on Burns; or George Neilson. The second section of the Bibliography deals with newspapers, printed books, manuscripts, pictures and so on. The oldest Annan paper-but it was short-lived-was the Annandale Press and Border Magazine, first issued in 1823; the Annandale Observer (once, as the Annan Observer, a monthly serial of eight pages, which was founded in 1857) is the paper of the district. There is a short but interesting list of ballads and songs belonging to or connected with Annan, and under' the Miscellaneous Writings (several of which are valuable local records), are four ghostly items grouped under the heading "Superstitions.' Annandale people may well be grateful to Mr. Frank Miller for the compilation of this Bibliography. L'Analyse Pyschologique de la Fonction Linguistique. By Henri Delacroix. (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 28. net.). THIS is the Zaharoff Lecture for 1926. Professor Delacroix distinguishes in language, or speech, as a whole four divisions. 1. Speech or language as a function in humanity at large; 2, language as an assemblage of linguistic conventions belonging to a certain level of intelligence and stage of development; 3, the art and practice of speaking in the individual person; 4, the utterance of words. He develops his argument and illustrates it largely by reference to results of pathological study, particularly Dr. Head's work on aphasia. The Somerset Year-Book, 1926. (Folk Press, Ltd., 2s. 6d. net.).

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THE Somerset year-book attains with this issue its quarter century. It contains a great variety of matter: songs, legend and folk-lore; topography; tales and anecdotes; history; pieces of dialectal writing; and natural history; and should be enjoyed by readers who are not themselves Somerset folk. Humour is abundant; and in most of the articles where it is in evidence the philologist will pick up something or other worth having. A word in praise of the illustrations must not be forgotten. Our correspondent, Mr. Willis Watson, contributes a long, substantial and pleasantly-written account of

Woodspring Priory, a house of Augustinian Canons, which has been mistakenly supposed .to have been founded in expiation of the murder of St. Thomas of Canterbury, but has nevertheless some links with that deed, for its founder was grandson of Fitzurse, and had connection, though not very close, with Morville and Breton. We cordially congratulate Mr. Douglas Macmillan, the editor, and the Society of Somerset Folk also, on this production.

BOOKSELLER'S CATALOGUE.

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MR. P. M. BARNARD, of Tunbridge Wells, sends us his Catalogue No. 154, describing a collection of 130 books. There are seven Swift items very well worth consideration, of which the most tempting is perhaps a good copy of the first edition of the Imitation of the Sixth Satire of the Second Book of Horace,' with the half-title, and uncut except for slight trimming of the lower margin (1738: £8); A curiosity is a folio, sold in Satyr 1708, by John Morphew, containing a there appears to be no record-nor is the in verse entitled St. James's Park,' of which, author's name known (8). An original edide France, Angleterre et Escosse,' by David tion of the 'Histoire Abbregee de tovs les roys Chambers, Lord Ormond (from the Gordonstoun Library), published at Paris "Chez Jean Feurier, pres le college de Reims " in 1579, is offered for £20. For £16 may be had a copy of the original edition of Robert Baron's Mirza,' and for £10 a first edition of Phineas Fletcher's The Locusts, or Apollyonists,' Cambridge, 1627. Perhaps the rarest item of all is a copy of A New Yeare's Gifte, dedicated to the Popes Holinesse, and all Catholikes, addicted to the Sea of Rome... by B. G. Citizen of London. This is given to Barnabe Googe in the D. N. B., but is to be attributed to Bernard Garter. It was published by Henry Bynneman in 1579. Mr. Barnard's copy contains, what is rare, the folding table of 14 woodcuts, showing "Certaine of the Popes Merchandize lately sent over into Englande." (£50). We also noticed An Essay of the Meanes to make our Trauailes, into forraine Countries, the more profitable and honourable '-the original edi

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tion-(1606: £30) and Ben Jonson's Workes

in two volumes folio-(1640-1631-1641: £25).

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

WHEN answering a query, or referring to an article which has already appeared, correspondents are requested to give within parentheses-immediately after the exact headingthe numbers of the series, volume, and page at which the contribution in question is to be found.

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Printed and Published by the Bucks Free Press, Ltd., at their Offices, High Street, Wycombe, in the County of Bucks.

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THIRD SERIES.-General Index.
FIFTH SERIES.-General Index.

TENTH SERIES.-Vols. i-xii and General
Index.

TENTH SERIES.-Vols. i, iv, v-vi.
ELEVENTH SERIES.-Vols. i-xii.

ELEVENTH SERIES.-Vols. i, ii, vii, ix. x, xi and xii.

TWELFTH SERIES.-Vols. i-xii.

THE following numbers and Volume Indices of the TWELFTH SERIES or the complete volumes in which they are included :

No. 2 Jan. 8, 1916 (Vol. i).
No. 53-Dec. 30, 1916 (Vol. ii).
No. 67-Apr. 14, 1917 (Vol. iii).
No. 86-November 1917 (Vol. iv).
No. 128 Sept. 25, 1920 (Vol. vii).
No. 148-Feb. 12, 1921 (Vol. viii).
No. 168-July 2, 1921 (Vol. ix).
No. 185-Oct. 29, 1921.

No. 228-Aug. 26, 1922 (Vol. xi). Please send offers to- NOTES & QUERIES." 20. High Street, High Wycombe. Bucks.

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Early printed Works, Standard Authors. First Editions, &c. Catalogues free. Books and autographs wanted for cash. Lists free.Reginald Atkinson, 188, Peckham Rye, Lon don, S.E.22.

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Visitors to London are invited to The Piccadilly Auction Rooms (Calder House) to inspect the display of ancient Silver, Jewels and Antiques collected from the Ancestral Homes of England. To obtain the full value of your treasures, employ the Auctioneer with expert knowledge of values, and one who studies the customer's interest before his own personal gain. Although it may seem paradoxical, it is nevertheless a fact, that if you wished to buy you could not do better than attend my rooms or instruct me to purchase on your behalf. It is simply a case of one person buying what another wishes to sell that enables me to perform a double service to the advantage of both buyer and seller.

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I have a fleet of motor cars and staff of experts constantly touring the country visiting the homes of the hard-pressed fixed income classes, who are compelled to part with their treasures in order to meet the everincreasing demands of the tax collector. For 21s. two of my representa

tives-one with a knowledge of Plate and Jewels, and the other Pictures, Porcelain, Old Furniture, Objects of Art, etc.-will call and impart all the information they can, and, if necessary, bring the jewels and silver away in the car. If desired, a third will also call to confer with those who wish to sell their landed property by auction or by private treaty, to talk about valuations for mortgages, dilapidations, and all such matters undertaken by a surveyor.

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INDEX TO VOLUME CL. THE SUBJECT INDEX to Vol. cl. (JanuaryJune, 1926), is now available, and may be obtained from NOTES AND QUERIES," 20. High Street, High Wycombe, Bucks, England, or through local newsagents. Čopies are also available at 22, Essex Street, Strand, London, W.C.2.

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NOTES AND QUERIES is published every Friday, at 20, High Street, High Wycombe, Bucks (Telephone: Wycombe 306.). Subscriptions (£2 28. a year, U.S.A. $10.50, including postage, two half-yearly indexes and two cloth binding cases, or £1 158. 4. a year, U.S.A. $9, without binding cases) should be sent to the Manager. The London Office is at 22, Essex Street, W.C.2 (Telephone: Central 396), where the current issue is on sale. Orders for back numbers, indexes and bound volumes should be sent either to London or to Wycombe; letters for the Editor to the London Office.

Memorabilia.

Price 28. 6d., postage inland and abroad 1d IN continuation of work begun in 1913 Pro

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Christoferus WrenComets of Omen, 224. QUERIES: Pere l'Heureux: Andreas EudæmonJoannes-Stodart: Lawrence: Jocelyn-" Tufts "

·

at Oxford and Cambridge-Runaway marriages Frederick Phillips (d. 1785): American loyalist -The Fraternity of Nazareth-Sand-glass of 28 seconds-Diocese of Salisbury-Richardson and Euxperius Families, 225-Lady Betty Germaine's copy of The Tale of a Tub-Cromwell's burial The Rabbit: introduction into England-Old Chapel in Belgravia: the Belfry-Church of St. John Lateran, Paris : Archbishop Beaton William Cordell-Vikings in North America: bibliography, 226-Floyd, author-The Son of Heloise Ancient metal crafts-Oldest inhabited House in the United States-The blind spot Graham of Georgia-Knatchbull-Walsingham -Windham of Finglas-Thomas Gregory Johnston-Henry Fenton Jadis.- Caradoc's Hunt'Author's Error-Author wanted, 227. REPLIES:-Coats for identification-Lambarde's

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Mr.

Perambulation-A Pepys Query: Mrs. Woolly - De Regibus Siciliæ Parallela Alfonsina,' 228-Margaret Savile Death of Bishop Bull of St. David's-" Quod fuit esse quod est The Doones of Exmoor, 229-Portrait of Sir Edward Hales Dickens: Barnard Castle, 230 Genealogies wanted-Liverpool Museum: British Gallery-Abraham des Carrières-" Poor Hume The Hats of Humanity, by G. A. Sala, 231-Medical degrees La Princesse de Clèves' Talbot of Carr Hall, Lancashire Humphrey Hedgehog." 232-Lloyd's of Powys-Fadog First Picture Postcard-Epitaphs-Thackeray and Great Coram Street Thom, sculptor The Mayflower-Disraeli quotation wanted Hall Caine's novels: criticism wanted The Benevolent 'Bus' Authors

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History

wanted, 233. THE LIBRARY:- The Cambridge Medieval History: Vol. V. Contest of Empire and Papacy.'

fessor Ernest Sellin of Berlin has now concluded a successful season's excavation at Shechem. In a lecture at Jerusalem, before leaving for Europe, Professor Sellin said that walls, two city gates (the largest as yet found in Palestine), towers, several rooms and entrances have been discovered; together with a palace, built about the eighteenth century B.C., where a large room and a gallery with bases of nine columns have been revealed. The Temple of Baalberith, mentioned in the Book of Judges, is the most ancient and important of the ruins. It was built with columns, and a place for the idol, its site being a terrace artificially constructed, having three smaller buildings about it, chapels probably of minor gods or goddess, and together possibly composing the "House of Millo." Four strata of buildings have been made out in this site, each showing clear separation between the strata of the upper and lower cities. Temple, palace and citadel had all been plundered long ago and yielded few objects of interest, but the lower city proved rich in these. Here were found two small Jewish altars of incense, pieces of a fine gold necklace, images of Astarte, scarabs, vases and weapons. More valuable still are two cuneiform tablets of the Tel el Amarna period, or a little later (but not later than B.C. 1200) which contain a private letter and a list of personal names, and may possibly, when fully studied, throw new light on the settlement of the Israelites in Palestine.

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